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27 October 2020 | Story Andre Damons | Photo Esi Grünhagen from Pixabay
The first 1 000 days of a baby’s life, from conception to the age of two, are of critical importance as they represent the springboard which will determine the projection of the baby’s life.

The first 1 000 days of a baby’s life, from conception to the age of two, are of critical importance as they represent the springboard which will determine the projection of the baby’s life.

It is for this reason that the Mother and Child Academic Hospital (MACAH) Foundation embarked on the First 1 000 Days’ campaign to create knowledge and awareness around this concept. MACAH is working with the University of the Free State’s (UFS) and the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health to provide healthcare to mothers, their babies and children.

Dr Lizzy Tabane, new Head of Department for Paediatrics and Child Health in the Faculty of Health Sciences says: “Better knowledge amongst our youth about the first 1 000 days is crucial for them to plan their careers and dream big about their future. This could also have an impact on the quality of life of their children. We need to empower our youth through awareness and knowledge to make the right choices.”

The campaign will be launched on 1 November.

According to Prof André Venter, MACAH Founding Director, there is basically pregnancy and two years to “get it right”.

A look at the first 1 000 days

“If we don’t get it right, there are dire consequences, especially for your newborn baby. So let’s look at these first 1 000 days. Firstly, there is the pregnancy and we would want the pregnancy to be as good as possible. That means the mother must be in good mental health, good physical health and have a good social and economic support to carry her through this time.        

“Once the baby is born, there have to be people to look after the baby The baby needs to bond; and this is actually a magical time,” says Prof Venter.

According to Prof Venter, the mother-child dyad is important because the mother is there to make sure the child is adequately fed as well as to make sure the baby develops. The mother is also there to provide emotional support. If this is lacking, the baby can grow up with marked emotional and behavioral difficulties, which will not stand it in good stead for its future.

“So the first 1 000 days are critically important and we need to get it right,” he says. Prof Venter, who is passionate about children and their development, nutrition, growth and thriving, is passionate about the first 1 000 days as it is one of the main interventions that has been shown to be effective to break the generational cycle of poverty in a population.  

Says Prof Venter: “If we don’t look after our pregnant mothers and don’t look after our young children, we put them on a trajectory that is always going to fail the child in the future. If we can get the first 1 000 days right, we can perhaps get them on the trajectory they should be, so that they fulfill their destiny and have a much more fulfilling life, both financially and physically, but also emotionally.

“So, yes, it is urgent and imperative that we have to get it right. We have to break the cycle of misery, poverty and unrequited dreams now,” says Prof Venter.   


Dr Lizzy Tabane    Prof Andre Venter

Dr Lizzy Tabane.                                             Prof André Venter.

 

 

News Archive

UFS hikers to Cape Town reflect on their journey
2014-05-26

 

For the four volunteers from the university who are currently on their way to the Cape on foot, every hour of every day is a victory.

It is three weeks since two employees from the University of the Free State (UFS), Adéle van Aswegen and Ntokozo Nkabinde, together with two other Bloemfontein residents, Nico Piedt and Ronel Warner, left Bloemfontein on fóót for the Cape, in order to highlight the problem of food insecurity among students.

On Sunday 18 May they crossed the halfway mark at Beaufort West and will conclude their journey on Tuesday 3 June in Cape Town.

This is what the hikers have to say after three weeks on the road:

Adéle van Aswegen
It isn’t only a physical journey, but rather an emotional journey you undertake. You learn what it means to be truly thankful for basic things like clothes, a place to sleep and food.

Nico Piedt
I know what it feels like to survive on only a glass of water in your stomach – a cup of weak tea if you’re lucky – for the whole day. If I can help (through the hike) to give someone a better chance in life, then it is worthwhile.

Ronel Warner
You think and grow simultaneously. As you plan every stride ahead of you, you also plan your life ahead.

Ntokozo Nkabinde
You don’t walk for yourself. You undertake this journey, maybe because you want to help someone, but this journey is actually in honour of something bigger and you just have to endure.”

These boots are made for walking ... to Cape Town (Article of 02 May 2014)
“Aren’t auntie and them hungry yet?” Country folk worried about NSH hikers (15 May 2014)

Daily updates:
(You can also follow us on @UFSweb for daily tweets)

Day 33: 2 June 2014
13:40
20 km
Sunset Beach, Cape Town

Day 32: 1 June 2014
16:05
26 km
Mervyn and Sanet Wessels, Belville

Day 31: 31 May 2014
16:31
39.6 km
Rhonell and Gavin Julain, Paarl

Day 30: 30 May 2014
14:00
16 km
Monte Rosa, Rawsonville

Day 29: 29 May 2014
13:16
31 km
The Habit, Worcester

Day 28: 28 May 2014
11:00
22.4 km
Monte Roza, De doorns

Day 27: 27 May 2014
17:00
21.1 km
Karoo Hotel

Day 26: 26 May 2014
18:27
43.3 km
Tows river

Day 25: 25 May 2014
12:18
Lord Milner Hotel, Matjiesfontein

Day 24: 24 May 2014
16:30
42 km
Laingsburg Country Lodge

Day 23: 23 May 2014
17:32
41.8 km
Vergenoeg

Day 22: 22 May 2014
16:42
43 km
Assendelft Lodge and Bush Camp, Prins Albert

Day 21: 21 May 2014
15:09
42 km
Leeu Gamka Hotel

Day 20: 20 May 2014
13:39
20 km
Alida, Springfontein

Day 19: 19 May 2014
12:31
27.6 km
Teri Moja Game Lodge

Day 18: 18 May 2014
First rest day
Nagenoeg Guesthouse, Beaufort West

Day 17: 17 May 2014
19:30
62.3 km
Nagenoeg Guesthouse, Beaufort West

Day 16: 16 May 2014
13:00
14 km
Taaibochfontein

Day 15: 15 May 2014
16:03
32 km
Travalia, Three Sisters

Day 14: 14 May 2014
18:33
43 km
Joalani Guest Farm

Day 13: 13 May 2014
17:30
33 km
Die Rondawels

Day 12: 12 May 2014
16:49
40 km
Aandrus B&B in Richmond

Day 11: 11 May 2014
39 km
Wortelfontein (Magdel and Christiaan)

Day 10: 10 May 2014
15:44
34 km
Hanover Lodge

Day 9: 09 May 2014
40.8 km
Camping between Colesberg and Hanover

Day 8: 08 May 2014
15:25
33.7 km
Colesberg, The Lighthouse Guesthouse

Day 7: 07 May 2014
15:08
23 km
Orange River Lodge

Day 6: 06 May 2014
15:57
51.06 km
Gariep Forever Resort

Day 5: 05 May 2014
12:18
28 km
Rondefontein

Day 4: 04 May 2014
15:27
35 km
Trompsburg: Fox Den

Day 3: 03 May 2014
17:30
46.74 km
Edenburg Country Lodge (Hotel)

Day 2: 02 May 2014
11:44 am
15.3 km
Tom's Place

Day 1: 01 May 2014
32 km
Leeuwberg

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